Oshiomhole, EDHA condemn Reps on Withholding Allocation To LGs

Governor Oshiomhole, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Peter Okhiria, described the resolution as “ill-conceived and an attempt by the PDP-dominated House to muzzle the state dominated by the opposition parties.

The statement pointed out that the resolution is a futile attempt by the House of Representatives to arrogate to itself, judicial functions in clear breach of the constitution, adding that the resolution was not only laughable but condemnable.

“The attempt to adjudicate on a matter before a court of law will not only fail, but is prejudicial and a clear breach of the rules of even the House of Representatives, the statement pointed out.

It added that the Edo State Government views the resolution as “a panic measure by some Abuja-based politicians who have completely lost touch with the realities on ground at home.”

The statement warned that the Edo State Government will neither be blackmailed nor intimidated by this unbridled show of force by the PDP-dominated House, adding that the government will completely ignore the resolution as it does not merit any serious attention.
The state House of Assembly during plenary yesterday equally condemned the resolution in strong terms.

The House consequently passed a resolution urging the upper chambers not to emulate what it termed “act of irresponsibility as exhibited by the Federal House of Representatives.”

It was also resolved that the Accountant-General of the Federation should disregard the resolution by the House of Representatives.

The response was triggered off when the Majority Leader, Hon. Philip Shaibu raised the issue on the order of Matters of Urgent Public Importance on the floor of the House during which he condemned the resolution of the lower chambers of the National Assembly on the allocation of funds to the transitional councils, adding that it was unacceptable.

Hon. Peter Aliu and Hon. Etinosa Ogbeiwi, who spoke extensively on the issue, as well as the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu, Hon. Johnson Oghuma and Hon. Uwamose Amadasun in their various remarks condemned the House of Representatives and asserted that the dissolution of local government and enthronement of the transitional councils in Edo State were done in accordance with the law.

Summing up debate, the Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bright Omokhodion said the state legislature was redressing what he described as “double standard of the Federal House of Representatives” pointing out that it had over stepped its bounds.

He explained that the resolution of the House of Representatives was not binding on the Edo State House of Assembly and people of the state, even as he warned that nobody should take the country for a ride; capable of plunging the nation into anarchy.

While thanking the state lawmakers for their respective comments, Rt. Hon. Omokhodion directed that clean copies of the resolution of the House of Assembly be sent to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senate President, Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, Minister of Finance, Edo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Accountant General of the Federation and the Accountant General of Edo State.